circuit breakers
nounUK /ˈsɜː.kɪt ˌbreɪ.kəz/
US /ˈsɝː.kɪt ˌbreɪ.kɚz/
A circuit breaker is a switch that stops electricity from flowing if something goes wrong.
When the toaster sparked, the circuit breaker turned off the power to keep everyone safe.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. Devices that automatically interrupt an electrical circuit to prevent damage from overload or short circuit.
The electrician checked the circuit breakers in the basement panel.
3. Mechanisms or policies designed to stop a process temporarily when problems arise, such as in finance or computing.
The stock market uses circuit breakers to pause trading during sharp drops.
4. People or things that interrupt or stop a series of events.
The new rules act as circuit breakers against reckless spending.